The ochres in the Luberon
An exceptional regional context
Roussillon is a magnificent village in the heart of the Luberon ochre massif, and it’s got the color. A visit to the sentier des ocres, on the edge of the village, is a must. A few kilometers away, in Gargas, the spectacular Bruoux underground mines are well worth a visit.
Just a few kilometers from Apt, you can get there by TGV from Avignon or Aix-Marseille airport. Numerous accommodation options for all budgets are available in the vicinity of the ecomuseum.
Continue your adventure in the heart of ochre
Our region is overflowing with sites that are much more than just “beautiful places”, each carrying a heritage, a history, but also the know-how specific to our territory.
The partnership between these different sites allows us to move from contemplative tourism to an immersive experience focused on color in all its forms.
Whether as living showcases of Luberon know-how or as organizers of cultural and festive events, all the partners are keen to share the many talents of our region.
The Bruoux mines
The Mines de Bruoux in Gargas are the remains of the mining industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Travel back in time along these old ochre extraction galleries in a unique and mysterious setting where man’s toil blends with the natural beauty of the Provencal landscape.
The colorado of Rustrel
Explore the Colorado de Rustrel, with its wide-open spaces and striking contrasts, from the brightest yellow to the deepest red, shaped by six generations of ochre and iron miners. Combining nature and heritage, the Colorado Provençal is a former open-air quarry in the middle of a forest massif.
The Roussillon ochre trail
The famous Sentier des Ocres makes Roussillon one of the most attractive hilltop villages in the Luberon. The two itineraries (20 and 40 minutes) are signposted with explanatory panels. An unusual landscape and an essential walk.
Museum of Geology
Housed in the beautiful vaulted cellars of the Maison du Parc in Apt, the Musée de la géologie invites you to discover the riches of this region, the diversity of its landscapes and rocks, and an extraordinary collection of fossils.
Ochres de France
Société des Ocres de France, founded in 1901, still produces 800 tons of ochre a year.
It has been awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, which recognizes the excellence of French know-how, and perpetuates the ochre industry in the Pays d’Apt.
Ochre washing Barriès
Learn about the artisanal exploitation of ochre in the exclusive company of an ocrier. Le lavage Barriès, in the Colorado Provençal, invites you to discover the history of ochre mining, from extraction to drying.
Apt Museum
You’ll find all the collections retracing the economic activity of the Pays d’Apt: earthenware, candied fruits and Luberon ochres.